Coating apparatus



Jani 25, 19441 s. s. sHERRlLL ET AL 2,340,207

` l COATING APPARATUS I Filed Jan.' l5, 1942 v 2 ShBBS-Sheet l F16. vl

Il l /NvE/v Tons S $.SHERR/LL A .s TIEGL 'R 25, 1944. s, s'. sHERRlLL-TJAL l v'comme APPARATUS' /N VEN TOPS $.$.$H`RR/LL ASTIEGLER APatented Jan. 25,1944

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE OOATING APPARATUS Sloan s.. sim-rm, Baltimore, and August stiegler,

Towson, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a cor'- pcration of New York appuoation January 13, 194e, serial No. 426,558

and have to be heated in order to liquify them preparatory to using them as a coating material. One type of apparatus in common use for applying such a coating material comprises a steam Jacketed tank made of castiron for containing the coating material. An applicator of suitable design for applying the coating'material to an article to be coated is positioned in the tank. One type of applicator which has been used consists of a horizontal, rotatable'cylinder partially immersed in the coating material which picks up the material as it rotates and carries it to an applicator. r

The cast iron jackets used in this type of ap-fl paratus are very expensive and crack frequently due to heat and pressure strains. Also the bot tom oi' the container becomes thickly encrusted with matter which can be cleaned off only by shutting down the entire line of operations of which the coating applying step forms a part, and-draining all of the coating material therefrom. The pressure of the steam used to heat thev cast iron Jacket is limited by the construction of the cast iron tank and is capable of being increased to suit certain requirements only by Y in the heavy liquid after an overnight adding a number of staybolts or -increasing'the ribbing and the thickness of the cast iron used. all of which entails much expenseand increases the possibility of leaks.

In some instances these expensive .cast iron Jackets have been obviated by the use of steam coils placed in the coating material to heat it.

'sWhile diminishing the oost of the apparatus, the

use of Isteam coils does not obviate ythe neces-- sity of a shut down of the entire line of operatime the coating apparatus requires cleaning. Furthermore, because of the inaccessibility of the large horizontal areas of the heating coils, cleanin the coating material. The greatest danger from this source is that the bearing will freeze `tions of which the coating step is a part every shut-down. and the driving motor will be unable to turn the shaft and consequently burn out.

Doctor blades are usually provided to` scrape lthe coating material from the cylinder in the cylinder type pick-up. Should there be even a slight crack in the cylinders surface, the doctor blade may catch in it and split the cylinder, thus requiring a shut-down until the necessary repairs are made.

These and numerous other disadvantages made the above described apparatus very unsatisfactory, and resulted in applicants present invention which comprises a coating apparatus that is cheap to manufacture, economical to run and superior in perfomance to devices previously known and used.

`.An object of applicants invention is to provide a coating device for coating articles which is of simple construction and is dependable in operation.

In general applicants device comprises a container for the coating material, a plurality of annular cylindrical' heating units removably positioned' in the container and having the maior portion of their heating surfaces disposed vertically. Pumping means including an impeller are mounted within one of the heating umts for forcing the coating material through the heating unit and onto the article to be coated.

Other objects and features of the .invention will be apparent from the following detailed del scrlption taken in conjunction with the accomparwing drawings, wherein v Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a coating device embodying the inl vention taken on the line l-i of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the coating device' taken on the line 2-,-`2 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is horizontal sectional view of a heating cylinder forming a part o! the coating del vice, taken on the line 3'3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings a container is indicated at l0 for containing a quantity of coating material il. This coating material may be of any usual type, but in the present embodiment of the invention it is a heavy, viscous fluid used for waterproofing electric cables. The inner and outer walls i2 and i4, respectively, of the container i8 are constructedof thin metal and are-separated by an insulating material l5. Such a container isinl no way subject to inlurydue to heat variations, as is a cast iron tank.

Two annular, cylindrical heating' units I6 and Il are located within the container III. The unit I9 is constructed by positioning an inner metal respectively (Fig. 1), which are even with the ends of the casings. The walls 20 and 24, together with the rings 28 and 29 and welds 39 and 3|, form a steam chamber 35 for heating the walls 20 and 24. The hollow walled, annular cylinder thus created has smooth vertical surfaces both inside and out, which have little tendency to collect the coating material. v

A steam supply pipe 32 and a condensate return pipe 33 enter the container Il) through slots 34-34 and extend into the steam chamber 35 through holes bored in the ring 28. The end 36 (Fig. 1) of the supply pipe 32 which is within the chamber 35 is located only a short distance below the top of the chamber, while the end 31 of the return pipe 33 is located near the bottom of the chamber 35. Thus the pressure ofthe steam entering the chamber 35 from the supply pipe 32 forces the condensate collecting at the bottom of the chamber 35 out of the chamber through the return pipe 33.

-The heating unit certain amount of clearance between the lower end of the unit and the bottom of the container I0.

The heating unit I8 and the supports therefor are identical in construction with the previously described heating unit I6 and supports 38-38. The heating unit I8 is also provided with a steam supply pipe and a return pipe like the pipes 32 and 33 described in connection with the heating unit I 8.

A third heatingunit I9 is positioned centrally within the container I0. The unit I 9 is similar in construction to the umts I and I8, but is somewhat longer than those units and is supported in a diil'erent manner. The unit I9 is provided with a steam supply pipe 43 and condensate return pipe 41, which function like the pipes 32 and 33 described hereinabove.

'I'he heating unit I9 is supported by angle bars 40-40 welded at their ends to the sides of the container I0. Lugs 4I-4I which are Welded to the heating unit I9, are fastened by bolts 42-42 to the angle bar supports 40-40, so that the heating unit I9 is spaced from the bottom of container I0. The spacing of all of the heating units from the bottom of container I Il is necessary in order to permit the coating liquidA to circulate freely through the units.

Mounted on a shart 44 disposed centrally of the heating unit I9 is a two bladed impeller 45 which is positioned near the lower end of the heating unit I9 Three identical vanes 41-41 (Fig. 3) and a vane 48 having a projecting end portion 46 extending over the top oi'the heating unit I9 are secured to a tube 50 which surrounds the shaft 44. Lugs 49-49 which are welded to the heating unit I9 on its upper horizontal periphery retain the extended end portion 46 of the vane 48 so as to prevent rotation of the vanes. The purpose oi.' these vanes is to translate the horizontal rotational movement given to the coating material I I by the impeller 45 into a verticalmovement up through the heating unit I A pulley 53 (Fig. 1) is mounted upon the upper extremity of the shaft 44` and is driven by a motor ascdaov 54. Should the unable to rotate,

5I through a pulley 52 and belt impeller for any reason be the belt 54 will slip suiiiciently 53 to prevent the motor 5I from burning out. The motor 5I is supported by a base plate 55 extending the width of container I Il and in turn supported by angle bars 56 and 58 (Fig. 1). A' U-shaped support 59 is bolted to the base plate 55 and has arms 60 and 6I which serve both to support the impeller assembly and to align the impeller shaft 44. Brackets 62--62 strengthen the arms 60 and 6I against horizontal displacement.

The pump in the invention described has no bearings in the coating material and thus is not subject to the ob- Jections raised against the pumps are cheap and easy to replace. This type voi! pump is also advantageous in that it pumps the uid with a minimum amount of turbulence so that the safety hazard of splashing hot liquid is cable 65. one side by an angle bar 68 welded horizontally along that side and resting upon another angle bar 1) attached at opposite ends to L-shaped members 10-10. Each L-shaped member 10-10 is in turn attached to a U-shaped member 1I 1I which is attached to member 12-12 (Fig. 2) that rests upon the upper edge of the container II. Pins 14-14 (Fig. 2) secured upon the members 12-12 enter aligned openings-in the container IIJ to prevent lateral movement of the trough 66. The opposite side of the trough 66 is bent outwardly and downwardly as shown at 15 over a bar 16 (Fig. 1). The bar 15 is bent outwardly at either end to form lugs 18-18 which are welded to the L-shaped members 10-1U,

these last named members connecting with the container I0 as above described.

Arms 19-19 of the L-shaped members 10-10 support a wiper assembly (not shown) which may be of any suitable construction. A bar connects opposing U-shaped members 1I and this aids in stabilizing the trough supports. ing 83-83 (Fig. 2) is left at each end of the trough 66 between the members 1I-1I to permit the coating liquid II to overflow from the trough 66 back into the container I0, thus providing constant circulation of the coating liquid I I between the container I0 and the trough 65.

A roller 8I (Fig. 2)- supports the cable before it enters the container I0 and a trough 82 is provided at the cable exit to catch any of the coating material II which may drip from the cable or wiper.

In operation a. suitable coating material II is supplied to the container I0 in any known and convenient manner. The level of the coating material II in the container III is kept above the upper edge of the heating supplied through pipes 32 ing units I 6, I8 and of coating material and 43 heats the heat- I9, and convection currents are set up within the units about the pulley particular embodiment of the 69 (Fig.

units I6 and I8. Steam which provide effective circulation of the material. 'I'he impeller 45 forces the heated coating material u-p through heating unit I6 and onto the conduit 64 which directs the coating material onto the cable 65. The trough V66 is partly filled so asto fully coat the cable 65, by supplying the coating material II to the conduit 64 at the rate necessary to coat the cable 65 and provide a constant overflow from trough 66 back into the container I through the openings 83-83 at either end of the trough formed between the U-shaped members II-1I.

The cable 65 passes over the roller tl and through the trough 66 wherein it receives a coating of material I I. Wipers (not shown) remove the excess coating from thecable which then exits through a trough 82 designed to catch drippings of the coating material II from the cable 65.

Whenever the container is to be cleaned, pipes 32 and 33 leading to the heating units I6 and I8 are detached from the main steam supply and condensate return pipes (not shown) and thel heating units I6 and I8 are lifted out. The impeller assembly may balifted out merely by slipping belt 54 ofi of pulleys 52 and 53 and unbolting the U-shaped support 59 from base plate 55. After removal of the impeller assembly, unbolting the bolts 42-42 will permit the heating unit I9 to be lifted out, along with the conduit 64.. The trough assembly comprising members 66 through 'I2 merely rests upon the edge of the container I0 and may be lifted out.

The container ID may now be easily and thoroughly cleaned in a very short time. Such a thorough cleaning is not required very often and usually removal and cleaning of -the heating umts I6 and I 8 is all that is required. These units can be removed while the device is in use without materially interfering with its operation.

The extremely small horizontal surface of the heating units collects very little residual matter and the units may operate for an extensive period of time without requiring cleaning. Another factor facilitating the cleaning of the heating units is their smooth vertical surfaces, which may be easily cleaned with a wire brush. Thus, the delay due to draining the compound in order to clean the container or heating coils in the old type devices has been entirely eliminated.

Numerous changes may be made in the embodiment shown of applicants device without departing from the spirit of the invention. The shape of the heating units, the type of blades on the impeller, the trough arrangement, the wiper assembly, etc., may all be varied within wide limits Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the language of the annexed claims..

What is claimed is:

1. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, means for heating coating material held in the container comprising a plurality of heating units each of which is composed oi' an annular, hollow walled cylinder having smooth surfaced walls, and a pump for forcing the coating material through the central opening of one of the heating units.

2. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, means for `heating the material comprising a plurality of separate heating units,`

each of which is removably mounted in the ,container and at least one of which is an annular cylinder, a pump for forcing the coating material through the central opening of the annular,

cylindrical heating unit, and means for receiving the pumped material for application to an article.

3, In a coating apparatus, a tankfor containing coating material, means for heating the material comprising an annular, vertical cylinder,

.means for internally heating the walls of the heating means, said cylinder being removably mounted in the tank, and means for causing the coating material to pass through the central opening of the cylinder and onto an article to be coated. t

4. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, means for heating the coating material comprising an annular, vertical, hollow walled cylinder, said cylinder being freely mounted in the container, means for supplying a heating fluid to the hollow cylinder walls, means for applying the coating material to an article to be coated including a conduit for conveying the coating material from the top of the heated cylinder to the article to be coated, and means for circulating the coating material through the heating means and the applying means comprising a vane type pump having an impeller positioned within the central opening of the heating means and designed to pump the coating material to the top of the heated cylinder.

5. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, means for heating coating material within the containercomprising an open-ended,

annular cylinder removably positioned in the container and having smooth surfaced walls, means for internally heating the walls of the cylinder, means for applyingthe coating material to an article to be coated, and means for circulating the coating material through the cylinder and the applying means comprising a pump having a vane type impeller mounted within the central opening of said heated cylinder.

6. Ina coating apparatus, a container for coating material, an open-ended, cylindrical, doublewalled heating element positioned within the com' tainer, and a pump positioned within the central opening of said heating cylinder.

7. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, a heating unit comprising a smooth surfaced, elongated body having an aperture extending therethrough, said unit being removably positioned in the container and having means for heating the interior of the body, pumping means comprising an impeller positioned within the aperture in the body of the unit, and means for applying the coating material supplied by the pumping means to an object to be coated.

8. In a coating apparatus, a container for holding coating material, a plurality of annular, cylindrical heating elements removably positioned within the container,l means for internally heating the walls of the heating elements, a pump having a vane-type impeller mounted within the annulus of one of the heating elements, means i'or applying the coating material to an article. and means for conveying the pumped coating material from the pump to the applying means v 9. In a coating apparatus, a container for the coating material, an open-ended cylindrical, double walled heating means container, material applying means, and pumping means for forcing through the central opening of the heating means the coating material positioned #within the ternally heating the walls of the cylinder, material applying means, and means comprising a vane-type impeller mounted within the central opening of the heating means for forcing the coating material through the heating means andY to the applicating means, all of the above-mentioned means being removably positioned within the I container.

11. In a cable coating apparatus, a container for holding coating material, a plurality of annular cylinders removably mounted in the container, means for internally heating the walls of the cylinders, a vane-type pump mounted in the central opening of one of said cylinders for forcingv coating material upward through said cylinder, material applying means, means for conveying the pump coating'material vfrom the top of said cylinder to the material applying means,

and means for advancing a cable'through the appl'ying means.

12. In a cable coating apparatus, a container for holding coating material. a plurality of annular, hollow walled cylinders removably mounted in the container, means for supplying steam to the space between the cylinder walls, a vane- 'tYDe pump mounted in the central opening of one of said cylinders for forcing coating mate.-

^ rial therethrough, material applying means comprising a trough removably mounted in the container and having openings at each end to permit the overflow of coating material from the trough to return to the container and a conduit' for carrying coating material from the top of the cylinder in which the pump is located to the material applying means, andjmeans for advancing a cable through the material 'applying means. 13. In a coating apparatus, a container forholding coating material, a plurality of annular, hollow walled heating cylinders positioned vertically within the container, means for freely supporting the heating cylinders with the lower ends thereof spaced from the bottom of the container,

means for supplying a heating iiuid to the space aecomo? between the walls of the-cylinders, means positioned within the central opening oi' one or the l for forcing the coating material through the ceny trai opening of one of the heated tubes comprising a pump having an impeller positioned in said central opening, a frame, and a plurality of bearings carried by the frame for supporting the impeller, all of which bearings are free from contact with the coating material in the container.

15. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, a plurality ofsmooth surfaced tubes freely positioned within the container.

means for internally heating the tube walls, a

pump having an impeller mounted within one of the tubes, a frame, a plurality of bearings carried by the frame for supporting the impeller,

all of which bearings are free from contact with the material pumped, means for applying the .pumped material to an articleand having an overflow directed into the container, and means for conveying the pumped coating material from the pumping means to the applying means.

16. In a coating apparatus, a container for coating material, an open-ended, annular cylinder, means for internally heating the walls of the cylindena pump having an impeller positioned within the cylinder, a frame, a plurality of bearings carried by the frame for supporting the impeller, all of which bearings are so positioned as not to contact the coating material, and means for applying the pumped coating material to an object to be coated.

SLOAN S. SHERRILL. AUGUST S'I'IEGLER. 

